Tie retainer



June 2,193$. E, PICOILET 2,042,961

TIE RETAINERv Filed 001;. 2, 1934 IN VEN TOR KM 41 A ra? Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE This invention is one ofthe class of devices which areemployed to obviate the tendency of the knot of a tie, more particularly of the widely used sailor knot or four-in-hand tie to slip below its proper position after it has been worn a short time, and is especially applicable for use with the turn-down type of collar.

In the drawing which is appended:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a collar with the tie in normalposition. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the unsupported tie displaced downward. Fig. 3 shows the tie held in place by the tie-retainer. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view with the collar in section showing the position and relation of tie, collar and retainer. Fig. 5 is a plan andFig. 5a is an elevation of a preferred form of tie-retainer. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top'view with the collar in section showing the position of the tie-collarand retainer of the form shown in'Fig.f7. 'Fig." '7 is a modified form of retainer which is curved to conform to the collar band with the ends bent outward to form radial fins. Fig. 7a is a plan view of Fig. 7. Fig. 8 is a simplified form of retainer in plan and Fig. 8a in elevation.

Normally, the topmost part of the knot, I, Fig. 1, should come above the collar-button, 2, and close the V formed by the flaps I9 and of the collar. Inevitably, the slight movement to which it is subjected by the wearer causes the knot to slacken and become displaced downward sufficiently to expose the collar-button 2, Fig. 2, despite the often-used scarf-pin I to aid in maintaining the tightness of the knot I.

It will be noticed from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2, that the knot normally is supported only by the oppositely directed tensions which are applied to the knot at the points 3 and 4 by the narrowed part of the tie which encircles the collar within its fold and enters the knot I at those points. Since the equal forces at 3 and 4 which tend to keep the knot I in place are only slightly inclined to a perpendicular to the direction of the force which urges the tie downwards, it is evident that the equilibrating restraining forces at 3 and 4 must be much greater than the downward force and entail tensions at 3 and 4 which are too great to be maintained by the friction between the folds of the tie within the knot, and as experience proves, even when aided by the locking action of a stick-pin I applied to the depending scarf 5 below the knot I. It is understood that the band 6, knot I, and depending scarf 5 are in one piece suitably trimmed as to width.

The device which is designed to overcome the above described difficulties in maintaining the tie in its proper position, and constitutes the subject of this application, is shownin Fig. 5. It consists essentially of a blade like beam 9 which rests edgewise at the middle of its length upon the shank I3 Fig. 4 of the collar-button 2 through a perforationat thatpoint i} which is wide at 8 and narrow at thetop at 8 while the ends I0 and II support the knot I by bear ing upwards upon the points 3 and 4 of the band 6 at which it enters the knot lat opposite sides. The bearing points I0 and II are provided with serrations in order to prevent possible slipping. The retainer 9 is shown in place in Figs. 3 and 4 in which are shown the serrated bearing-ends Ill and II engaging the band 6 and the point of support 8 resting upon the shank I8 of the collar-button 2. Thus the rtain'er consists subst'a'ritially of a thin" beam which is loaded at'the ends by the contact of the tie-band 6 and supported at the middle by the shank I8 of the collar-button 2, Figs. 3 and 4. It will be evident that the load at the outer ends by the contact of the tie-band 6 holds the retainer down within the narrow portion 8 of the opening 8 engaging and held in place by the collar button 2. The concave depression I5 which is provided between the serrated ends ID and II, Fig. 5 is to permit an easy entrance of the retainer 9 into place between the collar band I6 and the knot I, Fig. 4 and avoid crowding the knot.

In applying the retainer, the tie is adjusted in the usual manner, the knot being drawn up snugly to the desired position as in Fig. 1. The retainer 9 is then slipped between the collarband i5 and the knot I, and pressed upwards until the ends I 0 and II of the retainer make contact with the tie band 6, and the opening 8 Fig. 5 registers with the collar-button 2, when it is readily pushed inwards to rest on the shank I8, Fig. 4. The band 6, Fig. 3, being held up by the retainer at the ends I 0 and I I, Fig. 5 the tieband 6 cannot assume the position which is shown in Fig. 2 even with a slight loosening of the knot I.

A modified form of the retainer is shown in Fig. 7. It effects the same object as that shown in Fig. 5, but difiers from it in being curved so as to conform to the curve of the collar-band I6 against which it is designed to rest snugly while the extreme ends are bent outwards to form radial fins I2 and I3 which support the tie-band 6. The fragmentary section of Fig. 6

shows the manner in which this form of retainer engages the tie-band 6.

The form of Fig. 8 is similar in general shape to that of Fig. 5 but without serrations Ill and II and the reentrant curve I5 between them.

I claim:

1. A one-piece necktie retainer comprising a sheet of flat material having an elongated opening through the sheet narrower at the top than at the bottom adapted to pass the head of a collar button, the bottom portion being adapted to pass the end of the collar button and the top portion of the opening being adapted to fit the shank of the collar button, the sheet having upper flat bearing points laterally extending on either side of said opening to receive and support the neck band portion of a necktie Whose tied portion is in front of said opening and free from permanent attachment to the retainer whereby the knot is supported and the tie retainer is positioned.

2. A necktie retainer of sheet material having a central portion perforated by an elongated opening which is wide at the bottom for passing the head of a collar button and narrow at the top for engagement with the collar button shank and having wings on either side of the necktie, the upper surface of the wings and central portion forming a substantially straight line from one side to the other side of the retainer and the under surface of the retainer following the general contour of the opening at the central portion at the bottom and sloping upwardly from the central portion to the extremities of the winged portion, whereby central support is provided for the retainer and balanced'bearing contact is had with the necktie on either side of the support.

3. A one-piece necktie retainer of sheet material having a central portion perforated by an elongated opening which is wide at the bottom for passing the head of a collar button and narrow at the top for engagement with the collar button shank and having wings extending on either side of a necktie knot, the wings engaging a neckband of the tie about a collar, on either side of the knot, the upper surface of the wings and central portion forming a substantially straight line from one side to the other side of the retainer and the under surface of the retainer extending outwardly to the extremities of the winged portions, whereby central support is provided for the retainer and balanced bearing contact is had with the necktie on either side of the support.

4. In a necktie device, a necktie retainer of sheet material perforated with a central opening which is adapted to pass over the head of the collar button and rest upon its shank, the retainer having symmetrical wing portions extending on opposite sides of the opening which provide resting points upon their top limiting surfaces which support the downward pressure of the tie band on either side of the knot, and establish equilibrium between the downward pressure of the tie and the upward pressure'of LUCIEN E. PICOLET. 

